Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Providence Day freshman Jatarie White is one of three underclassmen selected for the USA Basketball U16 team.

The 12-player team will compete in the FIBA Americas qualifying tournament in Merida, Mexico June 21-25. The FIBA U17 World Championships will be held Aug. 17-26 in Rotterdam, Nethterlands.

White, a 6-foot-3 center, was second on Providence Day’s team in scoring (11.0 points) and rebounds (7.7) behind junior Tiffany Mitchell (18 points, 8 rebounds). Mitchell is a 5-foot-11 guard committed to South Carolina.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

For the last three seasons, the Charlotte Latin girls’ soccer team has been a heavy favorite to win the 3A NCISAA state championship.

But this year, after losing seven senior starters to graduation (from 2010) and three other starters to season-ending injuries, Latin wasn’t the clear favorite to win it all.

But Saturday afternoon, the Hawks proved that they were the state’s best again, winning their fourth straight title, this time by scoring two goals in the final 12 minutes to beat Raleigh Ravenscroft 2-1 in Greensboro.

Sophomore forward Ashley Finke tied the game at one with a goal in the 68th minute, then Amma Okwara scored the game-winner.

“We said all year until somebody beats us in the playoffs, we are the defending state champions,” Charlotte Latin soccer coach Lee Horton said.

Horton won his 14th state championship overall, including his seventh with the Latin girls (also has 7 titles with Latin boys’ soccer team).

Latin beat Charlotte Country Day 2-1 in the state semifinals Friday night. The Bucs had beaten Latin earlier in the year, ending the Hawks 43-game steak without a loss (42-0-1 from 2009 to 2011).

State lacrosse championships are becoming very common place at Charlotte Country Day. The Bucaneers won their fourth straight NCISAA title on Saturday with a 13-6 victory over Durham Academy on a sun-splashed day at Dowd field on the campus of Country Day.

Charlotte Country Day and Durham Academy have dominated the NCISAA lacrosse tournament since it's inception in 1997. The two teams have now faced each other in the championship game eight times, with the Cavaliers taking five titles. Saturday though was the Bucaneers day.

Senior attackman Alex Teller had four goals and an assist for Country Day (16-5), while sophomore midfielder Michael Radford added three goals. Bucs senior goalie Buddy Evans was solid, making big stops when the Cavaliers tried to get back in the game. Junior attackman Ben Lucas also scored twice for Country Day, including his first goal of the day eight minutes into the first quarter which gave the Bucs the lead for good at 4-3. Kyle Fairchild and Andy Kuo each had a pair of goals for the Cavaliers.

Durham Academy (14-7) had a hard playoff road playing four games in the past eight days, with three of those contests on the road. According to Country Day Head Coach Brad Touma, the Cavaliers tough playoff travel schedule was a key to the Bucs win Saturday.

"I think one of the biggest things that played into our favor was the fact that Durham Academy had such a tough road to get here," said Touma. "The fact that they were able to take care of Christ School and beat them 4-3 on Thursday that gave us the home-field advantage, that was one of the huge keys."

Teller was a handful for Durham Academy, as the senior may have saved his best game all season for Saturday's championship. "I felt great and think it's been the best game I've played all season," said Teller. "The state championship is the pinacle of our season and we won it."

While the Country Day offense racked up 13 goals, the Bucs goalie and defense were effective in holding the lead. Durham Academy scored the only two goals of the third quarter to get within four at 10-6. But that's when Evans was at his best making several key saves to blank the Cavaliers the rest of the way. "I always do my best to throw any part of my body in front of the ball to stop it, " said Evans. "A goalie is only as good as the defense, and I have a great defense here at Charlotte Country Day."

The victory gave the Bucaneers their eighth overall championship, and improved Touma's coaching record at Country Day to 383-109.

NOTES: The NCISAA lacrosse all-state selections were announced following Saturday's championship. Local winners included: Wake Hamilton, Buddy Evans and Thomas Passenant from Country Day; Sam Rush and Jake Flynn from Providence Day; Thomas Armstrong and Carson Claugh from Charlotte Latin.

Southlake Christian Academy won the NCISAA baseball state championship in the 2A division by beating Kerr-Vance Academy two games to one in the championship series. Kerr Vance won game one 5-0 Friday night. Southlake came back and won 11-1 in game two earlier today. This afternoon Southlake dominated game 3, winning 10-0. Travis Hallman and Bobby Troutman both homered for Southlake in the deciding game.

Providence Day girls sprinter Varonica Johnson’s final high school meet was one to remember.

Signed to Villanova, Johnson won the 100-meters, 200-meters and 400, all by pretty comfortable margins at the N.C. 3A Independent Schools state championships, which were otherwise dominated by Charlotte Latin.

The Hawks boys’ and girls’ teams won state championships, but individually Johnson had the biggest day of all.

Last year, she became the first girls runner to win all three events at the same meet in more than 30 years.

She equaled that feat Saturday.

Johnson also ran with Arielle Massillou, Hannah Wilson and Amanda McFeeley on the Chargers’ state championship winning 800-meter relay team.

Charlotte Latin won the girls team title with 139 points, easily topping second place Raleigh Ravenscroft (120). Durham Academy (82) was third and Providence Day fourth (78). Latin (101) took a narrow boys wiin over Asheville School (95.5) and Durham Academy (95). Country Day (86) was fourth.

Catholic (11-5) lost 6-0 in the 3A championship to Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons, which finished the season 26-2.

But Newton-Conover won its second straight state title, finishing the season at 25-2, with a 6-0 win over Durham School of the Arts.
Durham finished the season 16-6.

The Red Devils made their fifth straight appearance in the state finals and won all six singles matches in straight sets. Newton-Conover players either won at love or dropped only one game in nine of 12 sets overall.

-- In 4A, Winston-Salem Reynolds (21-1) won its second straight title with a 5-0 win over East Chapel Hill, which made its 12th appearance in the dual team finals. East Chapel Hill (19-2) was denied a ninth state title.

-- In 1A, Kernersville Bishop McGuinness, which defeated Gastonia Highland Tech on Friday in the regionals to advance to the state championship, beat Durham’s North Carolina School of Science and Math 5-2 for the title.

Bishop won four of the six singles matches and then clinched the crown when Noveed Foroudi and Lane Kiser teamed to win the second doubles match.

It was the only loss of the season for NCSSM, which finished 18-1, while Bishop McGuinness wound up 17-1 overall.

BURLINGTON -- Newton-Conover stormed to its second consecutive state championship in convincing fashion on Saturday in the 21st annual North Carolina High School Athletic Association state men's dual team tennis championships at the Burlington Tennis Center.

The Red Devils rolled past Durham School of the Arts 6-0 to capture its second straight state 2-A title in its fifth straight appearance in the championship match. Newton-Conover won all six singles matches in straight sets and either won at love or dropped only one game in nine of the 12 sets contested.

Newton-Conover finished the dual team season with a 25-2 mark while DSA ended 16-6.

Kernersville Bishop McGuinness, which defeated Gastonia Highland Tech on Friday in the regionals to advance to the state championship, topped Durham's North Carolina School of Science and Math 5-2 in the 1-A final.

Bishop won four of the six singles matches and then clinched the crown when Noveed Foroudi and Lane Kiser teamed to win the second doubles match.

It was the only loss of the season for NCSSM, which finished 18-1, while Bishop McGuinness wound up 17-1 overall.

The 3-A and 4-A championships were being contested Saturday afternoon after the 1-A and 2-A were completed.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Charlotte Catholic junior lineman Mark Harrell, a first team All-Observer pick, has committed to Notre Dame. Harrell, 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, was also considering Auburn, Clemson, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. ESPN ranks Harrell among the top 150 rising senior recruits in the country.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

GREENSBORO --The North Carolina High School Athletic Association, the Greensboro Sports Commission, the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, and the Greensboro Area Convention and Visitors Bureau have renewed their partnership agreement for another three years.

The Western Regional Basketball Championships, the NCHSAA Wrestling Championships, and the NCHSAA Track and Field Championships will continue to be held in Greensboro from the 2011-12 academic year through 2013-14.

"Greensboro has a great tradition of hosting major sporting events and we have had an excellent relationship with these fine partners for the past several years," said Davis Whitfield, commissioner of the NCHSAA. "We look forward to continuing the relationship and building upon the momentum that has been generated. We will continue to offer first-class events for our student-athletes and fans and we are proud to be a part of this partnership."

Other partners in this endeavor are the Greensboro Sports Council, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and North Carolina A&T State University.

“We are thrilled to renew our commitment to host these high school state and regional championship events in Greensboro,” said Greensboro Sports Commission president Kim Strable. “The NCHSAA has been a great partner and we appreciate the confidence the staff has placed in us to deliver a Tournament Town championship experience to the youth of North Carolina.”

For the last three years, the Western Regional Basketball Championships have been in the Special Events Center of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and at Fleming Gymnasium on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The State Individual Wrestling Championships have been contested in the Greensboro Coliseum for the last two years. The NCHSAA track and field championships have been held at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University since 2004.

“We are delighted to be part of the continuing tradition of outstanding track and field in North Carolina and pleased that North Carolina A&T State University and the Belk Track will again host the state championship meets,” said Earl Hilton, director of athletics at North Carolina A&T State University. The 3-A and 4-A championships for this season were held at North Carolina A&T last weekend and the 1-A and 2-A events are scheduled for this Friday and Saturday at the Belk Track.

Greensboro has a long history of hosting North Carolina High School Athletic Association state championship events. The Class A Basketball Championships were the first event in Greensboro in 1955 and started a series in which one of the basketball championships were held in Greensboro either at Grimsley High School, the Greensboro Coliseum, or at North Carolina A&T every year except 1967 until 1985.

From 1981 until 1985, all four classifications of the NCHSAA basketball championships were held at the Greensboro Coliseum.

The Coliseum also became the site of the State Individual Wrestling Championships from 1991 until 1994. The first NCHSAA wrestling championship ever held in Greensboro was in 1956,with Greensboro (Grimsley) High School as the champion. Greensboro also hosted the open state individual wrestling in 1960 and Grimsley was the host location for the AAA Championship in 1989 and AAAA Championship in 1990.

“To secure the NCHSAA western regional basketball, state championship wrestling and state championship track and field for three more years reconfirms Greensboro’s moniker of ‘Tournament Town,’” said Henri Fourrier, President Greensboro CVB. “It makes sense for the NCHSAA to hold its championships in Greensboro because of our fine facilities as well as ease of access by all North Carolina athletes.”

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Davidson Day girls soccer player Brianna Wills kicked her way into the history books Tuesday night.

A senior committed to Appalachian State, Wills scored five goals in a 12-0 win over Burlington Christian Academy in the N.C. Independent Schools 1A state quarterfinals. That gave Wills 77 goals for the season and broke the N.C. state record of 76.

This season, Wills leads the nation in scoring.

Wills and Davidson Day play against Community Christian School in the state semifinals in Wilson Friday at 2 p.m. Davidson Day is 17-5-1.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Myers Park's girls soccer team had a disappointing end to its season this weekend.

The Mustangs thought they would have a chance to complete a suspended first round playoff game with East Forsyth. The game started Friday but was called with 27 minutes left in the second half with East Forysth leading 2-0.

Officials tried to wait for stormy weather to clear out of the Winston-Salem area, but at 10:30 p.m., more bad weather rolled in and Myers Park soccer coach Bucky McCarley said school officials met with the referees. McCarley said the booking agent and referees informed them that the game could be postponed and finished Monday. The ADs from both schools agreed to play tonight (5/16) at 6.

The teams decided not to try Saturday night because Myers Park had the prom then.

Unfortunately, state and national rules say if a game is suspended in the second half and a winner can be determined, the team that is leading is declared the winner. If the game is tied, then it will be postponed and resumed. N.C. High School Athletic Association spokesperson Rick Strunk told the Observer that at least one other girls soccer game in the state was postponed at 0-0 by bad weather and will be finished tonight.

"The rule is in the handbook and I knew the rule going in," said Myers Park coach Bucky McCarley. "We understood the rule was the game needed to be finished (Friday). I said (to school officials and referees), 'Listen, we're down 2-0 with (27) minutes left and I have every reason to believe my team can tie. We'll be here to 3 a.m.'"

Athletics directors from both schools met with the game officials after speaking with both coaches. Game officials informed the ADs that the game could be postponed and played Monday, according to McCarley and Myers Park athletics director Rick Lewis.

McCarley said he wrongly assumed that the game officials would have ultimate authority and could override the handbook.

So Myers Park came back to Charlotte late Friday night and started thinking about trying to come back and tie the game to force overtime. But Saturday, the NCHSAA called Lewis with bad news: the rule in the handbook would be enforced.

"We all took the refs and the booking agent at their words that the game could be completed," McCarley said. "I assumed wrongly. Honestly, I hurt -- and I don't use that word lightly - for the players and this team. It's just hard to explain this to high school girls. In hindsight, I would've waited to try to finish this game."

Lewis said, like McCarley, he was awful disappointed for the team.

"It's disappointing the kids don’t get to finish out the process," he said. "Down 2-0 with 27 minutes, you can make a comeback in that. The solution we came up with seemed very common sense, and everybody was in agreement, but the rule book and the handbook states it in there, in black and white. It's just an unfortunate thing all the way around. I would’ve liked for our girls to finish the last 27 minutes."

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

GREENSBORO – Davis Bateman might not have believed it if you had told him at the beginning of the season that the Providence Day golf team would win it all.

But Tuesday afternoon, Bateman and his Charger team proved to best the state's best as Providence Day dominated the field, beating the second-place Raleigh Ravenscroft by 16 shots to claim the 3A NCISAA golf state championship at Bryan Park.
Bateman, a sophomore, was also co-medalist shooting a two-day score of 138 (68-70) to tie with Wesleyan Christian Academy’s Davis Womble (69-69) for state tournament honors.
“This is an amazing feeling, but I don’t really think it has sunk it yet,” Bateman said, whose team hadn't won the state championship since 2000 at River Run Country Club in Huntersville. “This team is really close and we’re all good friends, so to do this together for the school, it really means a lot.”

Bateman was hardly a one-man show as his team shot an even par 576 for the tournament. While Davis Bateman led the way with a 6-under-par, fellow Charger sophomore Christian Cichan and senior, Harry Murrell, also both carded an even par 144 (73-71 for both). Senior Kenan Bateman, Davis’ elder brother, shot a 150 in the two-day event, including a season-best, even par and season-best 72 in Monday’s opening session.

“I think we came out here and played our best golf of the year in the last two weeks,” First-year Providence Day golf coach, Dean Preston said, whose team won the Charlotte Independent School Athletic Association (CISAA) tournament last week at Charlotte Country Club. “We have a lot of good players and they all played well at the right time (of the year).”

Both Davis Bateman and Womble were one shot better than two-time defending state champion, Hickory Grove’s Chad Cox, who was tied for the lead after day one (at 68), but shot a 71 on Tuesday to finish at 139, good for sole possession of third-place.

“It was definitely my goal to win it all, all four years,” Cox said, who has committed to N.C. State.

Charlotte Country Day tied for third as a team, led by Coble Wright and Chakka Pasupa, who both shot a two-day total of 147 (3-over-par) while the Bucs’ Wilson Trent carded a 148.

PINEHURST— Ben Griffin of East Chapel Hill won a dramatic playoff with Greenville Rose's Andrew Decker on Tuesday to take the individual championship in the 75th annual North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A men’s golf championships at Pinehurst number six.

Griffin won it on the second playoff hole, chipping in to save par on a par four, after the two had finished deadlocked in the regulation 36 holes with 137 totals, five under par.

Andrew Klassing of Charlotte Ardrey Kell was third in the individual standings with a 140. Defending champ Grayson Murray of Raleigh Leesville Road was one of three golfers in a tie for fourth at even par 142, but Carter Jenkins of Leesville won on the first playoff hole to take the fourth spot over Murray and Philip Oweida of Charlotte Myers Park.

The championship was held on a par-71 layout set at 6,537 yards or the NCHSAA event.

Leesville Road held on to capture the team championship with a 292 score on Tuesday for a 577 total, four shots ahead of Myers Park. Ardrey Kell was third with a 593, followed by Raleigh Wakefield and Cary Green Hope. Six of the 12 teams in the field broke 600.

Green Hope had won the 4-A team title four times in the last five years. The best four of six individual scores count toward the team total.

Prior to 1986, all NCHSAA schools competed for a single title in an open tournament. Play went to three classifications in 1986 and then to four classes beginning with the 1998 tournaments.

A total of 84 golfers began play in the two-day tournament. Wendy’s is the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

2011 MEN’S 4-A GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Pinehurst Resort and Country Club, Pinehurst number six

TEAM STANDINGS

Raleigh Leesville Road 285 292 577

Charlotte Myers Park 290 291 581

Charlotte Ardrey Kell 300 293 593

Raleigh Wakefield 294 301 595

Cary Green Hope 298 298 596

Southern Pines Pinecrest 305 294 599

Clayton 304 298 602

Alexander Central 304 299 603

Greensboro Grimsley 308 307 615

West Forsyth 311 304 615

Davie County 305 323 628

Wilmington Hoggard 317 329 646

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS—par 71

First Name Last Name School Scores

Ben
Griffin
East Chapel Hill
69
68
137

Andrew
Decker
J.H. Rose
68
69
137

Andrew
Klasing
Ardrey Kell
71
69
140

Carter
Jenkins
Leesville Road
69
73
142

Grayson
Murray
Leesville Road
71
71
142

Phillip
Oweida
Myers Park
69
73
142

Drew
Johnson
NW Guilford
74
69
143

David
Spears
Myers Park
74
71
145

Jackson
Spires
Terry Sanford
71
74
145

Chandler
White
West Forsyth
75
70
145

Ben
Gardner
Alexander Cntrl
76
70
146

Larry
Han
Leesville Road
72
74
146

Andy
Simmons
Myers Park
72
74
146

Dylan
Harris
Pinecrest
77
69
146

Scott
Squires
Wakefield
76
70
146

Kyle
Arakelian
Wakefield
71
75
146

Andrew
Furr
Clayton
79
68
147

Zach
Burket
Alexander Cntrl
74
74
148

Mitch
Schneider
Ardrey Kell
75
73
148

Austin
Morrison
Myers Park
75
73
148

Trent
Livingstone
Clayton
74
75
149

Will
Thomas
Green Hope
76
73
149

David
Sargent
Hough
76
73
149

Jonathan
Noble
Leesville Road
73
76
149

Alex
Meade
Pinecrest
76
73
149

Nick
Brenner
Ardrey Kell
76
74
150

Minchung
Kim
Green Hope
73
77
150

Tyler
Filippi
Green Hope
72
78
150

Andrew
Fowler
Green Hope
77
74
151

Zach
Seabolt
Leesville Road
77
74
151

Will
Rainey
South Meck
76
75
151

Davis
Hoke
SW Guilford
73
78
151

David
Germann
Clayton
75
77
152

Bryan
Griffin
Grimsley
77
75
152

Jake
Williams
Grimsley
78
74
152

Zachary
Martin
Pinecrest
75
77
152

Tommy
Dillon
Davie County
74
79
153

Gerrick
Polinsky
Grimsley
72
81
153

Kyle
Gee
West Forsyth
80
73
153

Matt
Foster
Alexander Cntrl
77
77
154

Tim
Conover
Holly Springs
82
72
154

Alex
Happer
Wakefield
72
82
154

Matt
Conelly
Wakefield
80
74
154

Tanner
Pearson
Alexander Cntrl
77
78
155

Alex
Rhyne
Alexander Cntrl
77
78
155

Jason
Gallimore
Davie County
76
79
155

Jordan
Warren
Myers Park
76
79
155

Nick
Thompson
Pinecrest
78
77
155

Sam
Kosich
Pinecrest
77
79
156

Boomer
Boyd
Cary
76
81
157

Josh
Stockwell
Pinecrest
82
75
157

Kevin
Herron
Ragsdale
78
79
157

John
Major
West Forsyth
76
81
157

Ryan
Parrish
Grimsley
81
77
158

Zack
Dupre
New Bern
80
78
158

Danny
Gleeson
Wakefield
75
83
158

Aaron
Britt
Ardrey Kell
78
81
159

Michael
O'Donnell
Ardrey Kell
76
83
159

Mark
Germann
Clayton
81
78
159

Justin
Cook
Davie County
78
81
159

Michael
deMontbrun
Leesville Road
85
74
159

Hunter
Oxford
Ardrey Kell
83
77
160

Austin
Clevenger
Green Hope
83
77
160

Logan
Specht
Clayton
76
85
161

PJ
Kester
J.T. Hoggard
78
83
161

Davis
Morrison
Myers Park
78
83
161

Joe
Sink
Davie County
77
85
162

Spencer
Cosgrove
J.T. Hoggard
78
84
162

Taylor
Lasure
J.T. Hoggard
82
80
162

Tyler
Matthews
Clayton
85
78
163

Taylor
Grassi
South Meck
76
88
164

Jordan
Fisher
Alexander Cntrl
86
79
165

Nick
Kroustalis
West Forsyth
80
85
165

Michael
Franchi
Wakefield
83
83
166

Chase
Moore
Davie County
78
89
167

Adam
Friedman
Grimsley
82
85
167

Ryan
Turley
West Forsyth
83
84
167

Owen
Murphy
Green Hope
77
91
168

Brad
Landschoot
West Forsyth
88
80
168

Mark
Laird
J.T. Hoggard
79
90
169

Neil
Scribner
J.T. Hoggard
93
82
175

Jacob
Diab
J.T. Hoggard
88
87
175

Logan
James
Davie County
92
84
176

Zack
Pulliam
Grimsley
84
--
--

Kyle Webb Grimsley -- 107 --
HICKORY'S POSTON WINS 3A TITLE

FOXFIRE VILLAGE — Hickory's J.T. Poston clinched his second consecutive North Carolina High School Athletic Association individual championship in record fashion on Tuesday in the 26th annual state 3-A men’s golf championships at the Foxfire Golf and Country Club.

Poston, the defending individual champion, fired the lowest 36-hole total in the history of the NCHSAA championships by putting up a 68 on Tuesday to go with a blistering nine-under 63 on the opening day for a 13-under par total of 131. He had a nine-shot advantage over second place Robert Register of Burlington Williams.

The previous low score for 36 holes was a 134 by East Davidson's John Carter III at Broken Arrow in Statesville in the 1999 championships.

The championship was held on a par-72, 6,851-yard layout for the NCHSAA event.

Burlington Williams, under veteran head coach Tommy Cole, surged ahead with a 288 on the final day of play for a 579 total, five shots ahead of Hickory as Robert Register (67 on Tuesday) and William Register (71) led the way. Gastonia Forestview, the first day leader by three shots with a 288, had a 300 on Tuesday for a 588 total, good for third place.

The best four of six individual scores count toward the team total.

Prior to 1986, all NCHSAA schools competed for a single title in an open tournament. Play went to three classifications in 1986 and then to four classes beginning with the 1998 tournaments.

A total of 84 golfers began play in the two-day event. Wendy’s is the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program.

BUIES CREEK-- Kernersville Bishop McGuinness rolled to a convincing team victory and also swept individual honorson Tuesday in the 14th annual North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 1-A men’s golf championships at the Keith Hills Country Club.

Bishop McGuinness had a 29-shot lead in the team standings after the first day and wound up winning by 48 shots, recording 299 totals on both days of play for a 598 total. West Montgomery, the defending team champ, was second with a 646 and East Surry placed third at 669. The best four of six individual scores count toward the team total.

The championship was contested on a par-72, 6,625-yard layout for the NCHSAA event.

Bishop golfers took four of the top six spots and went one-two, with Stanhope Johnson taking medalist honors with rounds of 74 and 71 for a 145 total, good for a three-shot advantage over teammate Tanner Owen.

Patrick Cover of Pine Lake Preparatory, a charter school, was third at 149. Colyn Petty of Swain County captured fourth in a one-hole playoff with William Whitacre of Bishop McGuinness, after they tied with 152 totals after 36 holes.

Prior to 1986, all NCHSAA schools competed for a single title in an open tournament. Play went to three classifications in 1986 and then to four classes beginning with the 1998 tournaments.

A total of 84 golfers began play in the two-day tournament. Wendy’s is the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

2011 MEN’S 1-A GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Keith Hills Country Club, Buies Creek

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS

Kernersville Bishop McGuinness 299 299 598

West Montgomery 328 318 646

East Surry 335 334 669

Lake Norman Charter 348 326 674

Hendersonville 350 335 685

Riverside-Martin 349 342 691

Swain County 345 350 695

Midway 359 343 702

Rosewood 352 356 708

Durham N.C. School of Science and Math 366 352 718

Raleigh Charter 370 368 738

Southwest Onslow 382 367 749

FINAL INDIVIDUAL SCORES

First Name
Last Name
School
Score

Stanhope
Johnson
Bishop McGuinness
74
71
145

Tanner
Owen
Bishop McGuinness
72
76
148

Patrick
Cover
Pine Lake Charter
74
75
149

Colyn
Petty
Swain County
77
75
152

William
Whitacre
Bishop McGuinness
74
78
152

Daniel
Barrett
Bishop McGuinness
79
74
153

Erik
Benson
Gray Stone Day
74
79
153

Dylan
Kennedy
West Montgomery
78
75
153

Nick
Adams
Rosewood
80
74
154

Andrew
London
Central Academy
78
76
154

Adam
Capps
Midway
81
76
157

Cody
Hodges
Mount Airy
74
83
157

Sean
Murphy
Lake Norman Charter
82
76
158

Logan
Wynne
Riverside-Martin
82
77
159

Ethan
Sasser
West Montgomery
78
82
160

Danny
Prevatte
Southwest Onslow
85
76
161

Jordan
Taylor
West Montgomery
82
79
161

Jackson
Wood
Raleigh Charter
81
80
161

Gage
Killian
Murphy
86
76
162

Johnathan
Lara
NCSSM
81
81
162

Brian
Sowinski
Bishop McGuinness
82
80
162

Ben
Vogler
East Surry
82
81
163

Drew
Alley
East Surry
85
81
166

Devin
Laverdure
Heide Trask
85
81
166

Eli
Sanchez
Heide Trask
81
85
166

Grant
Hahn
Hendersonville
89
78
167

Ben
Cattoni
Lake Norman Charter
87
82
169

Brandon
Conrad
Bishop McGuinness
82
88
170

Ty
Hart
Pender
81
89
170

Jordan
Vogler
East Surry
87
83
170

Austin
Moncrief
Hendersonville
89
82
171

Drew
Harkins
West Montgomery
90
82
172

Nicholas
Peavy
NCSSM
87
85
172

Bret
Robinson
Rosewood
86
86
172

Braxton
Squires
Riverside-Martin
86
86
172

Charlie
Maness
West Montgomery
90
83
173

Morgan
Reed
Hendersonville
83
90
173

Cameron
Byrd
Midway
85
89
174

Dustin
Holder
East Surry
81
93
174

Alex
Yarborough
Hendersonville
89
85
174

Jake
Blum
Lake Norman Charter
89
86
175

Whit
Ross
Riverside-Martin
91
84
175

David
Shaw
Lake Norman Charter
93
82
175

Tyler
Bryant
Swain County
86
90
176

Alex
English
Mitchell
84
92
176

Elish
Mahajan
Raleigh Charter
89
89
178

Jordan
Edwards
Spring Creek
89
90
179

Ross
Goldbrum
Lake Norman Charter
90
89
179

Nick
Lisle
Southwest Onslow
89
90
179

Joseph
Marion
East Surry
92
89
181

Robbie
Peterson
Midway
98
85
183

Ben
Cornblum
Swain County
91
94
185

Cole
West
Riverside-Martin
90
98
188

Walker
Harrison
West Montgomery
92
98
190

Blake
Weaver
Rosewood
90
100
190

James
Carson
Swain County
100
91
191

Joey
Kroeger
NCSSM
95
96
191

Brandon
Godwin
Midway
95
97
192

Andrew
Henn
Rosewood
96
96
192

Steve
Welch
Manteo
98
94
192

Lloyd
Blythe
Swain County
91
102
193

Zach
Hobbs
Midway
100
93
193

Zack
Matics
Southwest Onslow
102
91
193

Taylor
Cowan
Riverside-Martin
101
95
196

Keith
Paggette
Riverside-Martin
91
105
196

Eli
Turlington
NCSSM
105
91
196

Brian
Branch
Raleigh Charter
97
100
197

Raymond
Budi
NCSSM
103
95
198

Eric
English
Hendersonville
104
98
202

Kyle
Sheats
Raleigh Charter
103
101
204

John
Jackson
Hendersonville
96
109
205

Tyler
Dean
Rosewood
108
101
209

Matt
Gwynn
Raleigh Charter
111
99
210

Dylan
Zanikos
Midway
107
104
211

Tristan
Watty
Swain County
106
106
212

Gib
Baker
Lake Norman Charter
105
111
216

Amanda
Dango
NCSSM
110
111
221

Drew
Williams
Southwest Onslow
106
122
228

Jaz
Verceles-Zara
Rosewood
113
117
230

Sam
Blake
Southwest Onslow
122
110
232

Nick
Mason
Dixon
DNS

0

Zach
Barnard
East Surry
106
DNP
106
SALISBURY WINS 2A TITLE

SOUTHERN PINES – North Surry's Taylor Coalson emerged from a group of three golfers tied for the lead and captured the individual championship on Tuesday in the 26th annual North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A men’s golf championships at the Longleaf Golf and Country Club.

Coalson had a 71 on the final day and finished with a 140 total, good for a two-shot victory over defending champion Roy Dixon of Salisbury. Dixon, who finished 13th in the individual standings in the 2009 tournament and won it all last year, had a 73 in the final round for a 142 total.

Sam Goodnight of North Lincoln placed third, three shots back. The course was set at par 71 and a 6,600-yard layout.

Salisbury and North Lincoln were deadlocked at 293 in the team standings after the first day of play, but Salisbury put together a score of 287 on Tuesday to storm to a 24-shot victory over North Lincoln. Shelby finished third at 605. The best four of six individual scores counted toward the team total.

Prior to 1986, all NCHSAA schools competed for a single title in an open tournament. Play went to three classifications in 1986 and then to four classes beginning with the 1998 tournaments.

A total of 84 golfers began play in the two-day tournament. Wendy’s is the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Butler High girls basketball star Cierra Burdick added another award to a glittering resume Monday: she was named a Parade All-American for the second straight season.

Burdick, signed with Tennessee, is one of 40 players from 30 states named the 35th Parade team. She was the only player from North or South Carolina selected.
Burdick repeated as Observer, Gatorade and N.C. Associated Press player of the year this season when she averaged 23.1 points, 15.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, five blocks and 4.1 steals. Her team finished 31-1.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Butler High football coach Mike Newsome was one of at least six finalists for the same position at Kannapolis Brown, according to a source close to the search.

Reached by telephone by the Observer Friday, Newsome would not comment.
Butler High athletics director Courtney Paschal told the Observer Friday that Newsome has not resigned as football coach at Butler. Paschal confirmed Newsome interviewed at Brown last week, but said he's still the Bulldogs football coach.

"He has not resigned at Butler," she said, "and to our knowledge, he hasn't been offered the position at Kannapolis either. We know that he interviewed, but he has not resigned as of (Friday) at Butler. I don't know where they are getting information, but there's been no decisions made as of yet."

Brown principal Kevin Garay told the Observer Thursday that the school had picked a candidate to replace former coach Ron Massey, who is retiring. Garay declined to say how many applicants had been interviewed, but said the school would make its recommendation for a new coach to the Kannapolis School Board at its Monday meeting for approval.

Sources said the finalists included former Wonders players Blair and Justin Hardin, who won a state championship at the school when their father, Bruce, was head coach. The other finalists, according to sources, were Newsome, Morganton Patton's Chris Deal, Salisbury's Joe Pinyon and West Rowan's Scott Young. Blair Hardin is head coach at Indian Trail Porter Ridge; Justin is head coach at Weddington.

The Shelby Star is reporting that Shelby High football coach Chris Norman has retired.

Norman won nearly 80 percent of his games since starting with the program in 1998. He was 147-39-1 with three state championships and 10 conference titles.

He is the second high-profile Cleveland County coach to leave in the past two seasons, following Boiling Springs Crest head coach Roy Kirby who left after the 2009 season to join former Independence coach Tom Knotts in South Carolina as defensive coordinator at Dutch Fork.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Kannapolis Brown principal Kevin Garay told the Observer Monday that the school has completed its search for a new football coach and will make a recommendation to the Kannapolis School Board at its Monday night meeting.

Garay declined to say how many applicants he'd interviewed.

AL Brown is replacing longtime coach Ron Massey, who is retiring. He was 120-32 in 11 seasons at Kannapolis.

Romar Morris of Salisbury High School and Courtney Melvin of East Bladen High School have been named winners of the 2011 Athlete of the Year awards by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA).

These are the top athletic awards given by the NCHSAA to honor the most outstanding male and female high school athletes in the state. They were presented at the Dean E, Smith Center on the University of North Carolina campus during the NCHSAA's Annual Meeting on Thursday.

Both of the winners were selected by a special panel of media representatives from across the state. They were each presented with the Pat Best Memorial Trophy, named for the former Goldsboro High principal and president of the NCHSAA who died unexpectedly in 1988.

"On behalf of our Board of Directors and the entire membership of the NCHSAA, we congratulate these outstanding student-athletes on their tremendous achievements during their high school careers," said Davis Whitfield, commissioner of the NCHSAA. "Both have extremely impressive credentials which are in the same vein as previous winners of this award, and we certainly wish them well in their future pursuits.

Morris is a tremendous three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track, a four-year member of those teams at Salisbury.

During his senior year, he was the leading rusher and Most Valuable Player in the NCHSAA 2-AA state championship game in football, earning the Central Carolina Conference Player of the Year award. He also played an important role in helping the Hornets reach the Western Regionals in basketball.

Additionally in the winter season, he ran winter track and won the state championship in the 55 meters. In the spring, he runs outdoor track and will be defending his crown as the two-time defending champion in both the 100 and 200 meters. He will also participate in other relay events. During his last three years at Salisbury, he has won five individual state championships and helped lead three teams to state crowns with this spring's season remaining.

He will attend the University of North Carolina next year on a football scholarship.

Melvin has had a remarkable high school career, participating in volleyball, basketball and track. In volleyball she averaged seven kills, three blocks and 16 service points a game for East Bladen. She shattered the school career scoring record in women's basketball, finishing with 2,502 points. She averaged 24.2 points per game and 10.9 rebounds as a senior and was the Eastern Regional MVP as she helped lead East Bladen to the state championship game for the fourth time in the last five years.

In track, she has twice been selected as the Most Valuable Player for her team. She is the 2011 conference champion in the shot put and has qualified for regional competition.

She will continue her athletic and academic career at East Carolina University next fall.

This is the 26th year in which awards have been given to the top overall male and female athletes. Previous winners of the award include:

CHAPEL HILL-- The North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors completed its spring Board meeting on Wednesday at the NCHSAA offices.

Among the major items was the decision to return additional monies to the NCHSAA member schools, to preserve the Student Services program and a change in the preseason conditioning requirements for football.

The Board voted to make a one-time payment of one thousand dollars to each member school for the 2010-11 academic year to assist schools in these challenging economic times. The Board also voted that for the next four years, 25% of the dollar surcharge on tickets designed to go to the NCHSAA Endowment will be directed to the member schools. Other changes the Board had made at earlier Board meetings in terms of percentages of money kept for playoffs and travel reiumbursement has meant that an additional $125,000 has been sent to the member schools.

The Board also approved an projected adjusted budget for the NCHSAA Student Services program that the Association will absorb if the current funding that has come from the General Assembly is not continued for next year.

Specific changes were made in preseason football conditioning guidelines, based on National Athletic Trainers Association guidelines, that limit time on the field and three "cool hours" must separate multiple practices or a practice and a walk-through in a single day. The entire policy will be distributed to the NCHSAA membership and posted on line.

"The Board had a very productive meeting over the past two days, highlighted by the fact that the NCHSAA is doing all that is possible to help the membership in these tough economic times," said Davis Whitfield, commissioner. "In addition, to approve the funding of our student-services program because of the wonderful programming it provides related to integrity, teamwork, sportsmanship, healthy lifestyle choices and producing positive citizens is a big step."

Other items included:

--all fall sports will now be able to begin practice on July 30 for 2011

--background checks will now be made by the NCHSAA on all those who register to officiate in the program

--live streaming of regular season games, including football and basketball, was approved

--some changes in wrestling weigh in and weight management procedures; recommend adjustment in weekly weigh in procedure; once matches begin, match weigh ins should be used and must be entered into OPC within 24 hours of match; mandated Friday weigh ins up to beginning of regular season competition; if no matches in a week, must have a weigh in during the week; if wrestler absent and does not weigh in at match, must have one during week

--baseball and softball now have the identical off season skill development rules as other sports, with the removal of the "grandfather" clause that provided an exception for skill development for baseball and softball, so now all sports would have the same restrictions relative to out of season rules and regulations

--the NCHSAA will no longer sanction all-star games, as many other states have already gotten out of that business, but will continue to endorse the North Carolina Coaches Association events; information will be posted on web site relative for players, parents and coaches to consider when playing in an event of this nature; senior still must have completed eligibility in that sport, and play in no more than two games (football or basketball) during the school year

-- approved request to allow wrestling for 3A, 2A and 4A all to wrestle on Thursday of state individual wrestling championships

--approved addition to Handbook about sports in which the NCHSAA does not have a championship: "Even though such sports are not sanctioned by the NCHSAA, member schools should work, wherever possible, to adhere to the ideals and guidelines established by the NCHSAA for their member schools in sports which they do sanction. The need to promote sportsmanship, to protect instructional time, or the physiological and emotional needs of maturing teens should not disappear simply because it is not a sport sanctioned by the NCHSAA."

Waddell’s Jervon Pressley took a visit to Missouri Wednesday. He had committed to Georgia State but there was a mutual agreement to release him, Waddell coach Jermaine Walker said. Walker said Pressley has also visited Robert Morris and Townsend. Pressley, a 6-foot-8 senior, averaged 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Raiders (20-10).

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Former N.C. State basketball standout Rodney Monroe is the new boys basketball coach at SouthLake Christian School in Huntersville. His first day is June 1.

The 17-year-old school, situated on a 19-acre campus, is part of the SouthLake Presbyterian Church. It’s a TK-12 school that had about 800 enrolled students in the 2009-2010 school year. Tuition for high school students is about $9,000 annually.

Monroe, 43, was ACC player of the year in 1991, when he averaged 27 points per game and broke David Thompson’s school scoring record. He was the first N.C.State player to win player of since Thompson won from 1973-75.

Monroe is fifth all-time in scoring in the ACC with 2,551 points. Selected as one of the ACC’s top 50 players of all time, Monroe was drafted by Atlanta in the second round of the 1991 NBA draft. He played one season and played in Europe for 13 seasons. He was most recently head boys basketball coach at Lake Norman Christian.

“The game of basketball isn’t just about the x’s and o’s and making baskets,” said Monroe. “For me, you’re teaching young men how to win and how to lose, to understand that every time they go out on the court or go into the community, people are watching them. I want them to be young men worthy of wearing the SouthLake emblem on their jerseys as they represent Christ on and off the courts.”